Daily Archives: April 22, 2016

Are you ready to get your Amateur Radio License?

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UPDATED 20160423 9:38 a.m.
800-UV-2501-16-01-08-3If you have been studying to get your Amateur Radio license, you have two chances coming up in May.

The Coconinco County Amateur Radio club is planning an exam for all classes of license on May 14 from 9:00 – 11:00 AM. The examination will be held at the North County Health Care classroom. The North County Health Care center is at 2920 N 4th Street in Flagstaff. Visit their web site for information on what you are required to bring for the exam.

In Yavapai county you have an opportunity to become licensed by the Yavapai Amateur Radio club. They require you to obtain an Federal Registration Number (FRN). The requirements can be found on their web site. Their next exam is also scheduled for May 14 and you can take a practice exam on Tuesday May 10. You must pre-register online. The exam will be held in the Jeep Posse Building 1200 Commerce Drive in Pioneer Park behind the outdoor hockey rink (MAP).

The fee for the examination at either location is $15. You can take all three levels of exam unless you fail one along the way. You must pay another fee to continue or you can choose to take what you get and go home to study.

You are not required to know Morse code for any of the exams. That requirement has been stricken. However you can go on to learn Morse code for fun later.

Amateur radio is becoming more popular since lower priced hand held radios have been dumped on the market. They give you more range than those cheap Family Radio Service (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radios you purchase in department stores. It also gives you access to more frequencies and propagation modes using amateur satellites and even bouncing a signal off of the moon.

There are many other aspects to Amateur Radio including emergency communications during disasters.

Exceptional Health Products Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Soy And Milk Allergens In Angel Wings™- Daily Multi 120 Capsules

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ucm497171Exceptional Health Products of Tulsa Oklahoma is recalling Angel Wings™ – Daily Multi 120 Capsules because this product contains undeclared SOY and MILK allergens. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to Soy or Milk allergens run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

The following product was distributed nationwide to consumers through mailorder.

Product Name: Angel Wings™ – Daily Multi 120 Capsules

Lot Numbers: 14656, 14657, 15109, 15489, 15488, 15616, and 16007

This voluntary recall has been initiated because this product contains undeclared SOY and MILK allergens. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to Soy or Milk allergens run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

No illnesses have been reported to date. This was brought to our attention by the Food and Drug Administration that found inconsistencies with our supplier’s allergen statement on the Amino Acid ingredients used in this formulation.

The recalled lot numbers began shipping nationwide on December 23, 2014. If you find the recalled lot numbers on the bottom of any bottle you have inventory you may return it to the address at the bottom for a full refund or replacement. If you have further distributed this product, please identify the recipients or your customers and notify them at once of this product recall.

If you have any questions, call 888-548-0477 Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST. We are sorry for this inconvience and appreciate your assistance.

Fifty-Nine Year-Old Lost Hiker Rescued from Humphries Peak

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FLAGSTAFF — On April 21st at approximately 8:30 AM the Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue responded to a report of a lost hiker on Humphrey’s Peak. The 59 year old male hiker was determined to be off trail at approximately 11,700 foot elevation in an area known as Temptation Gully. The hiker was reported to be cold, tired, disoriented, with some underlying medical conditions.

Search and Rescue personnel hiked into the area and located the hiker at 12:43 AM. After assessing his condition it was determined that the safest route was to hike to the Humphrey’s Saddle and then evaluate the options for evacuation. A second search team hiked to the Humphreys Saddle and prepared to receive the hiker and provide warm drinks, food, and dry clothing.

Due to the hikers fatigue and symptoms of acute mountain sickness an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Air Rescue helicopter from Phoenix was requested to evaluate landing at the saddle to pick up the hiker. DPS Air Rescue arrived in the area of the saddle at 3:30 AM and attempted to land but was unable to due to high winds. The decision was made to camp just off the saddle and out of the wind until daylight allowing the hiker time to rest and regain normal body temperature. The daylight would also offer increased visibility. At 4:15 AM a third search team equipped with a litter and ropes began hiking to the saddle and was prepared to assist the hiker if he became unable to hike out on his own due his symptoms of acute mountain sickness and fatigue.

At approximately 6:00 AM the hiker and the search teams began to hike down the Humphreys Trail. An Arizona Snowbowl Snowcat was dispatched to an area near the ski area boundary at the base of the Pluto ski run. The Search and Rescue Teams assisted the hiker to that location where he was loaded into the snowcat and transported to the Agassiz Lodge to be reunited with a family member. The Search and Rescue personnel hiked down the mountain and completed the mission by 11:30 A.M.

This incident was another example of the close working relationship between the Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, DPS Air Rescue, and the Arizona Snowbowl to resolve an emergency. Even in the spring, winter like conditions can still exist on the San Francisco Peaks. Hikers on the peaks trails should research the conditions and be prepared to turn around if the conditions become hazardous or the trail becomes difficult to navigate. Hikers should also be personally and physically prepared for the hike including carrying the appropriate equipment and clothing and leaving a detailed trip plan with a trusted person.

Only 73 permit-tags remain for 2016 elk hunts

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PHOENIX — Arizona hunters still have an opportunity to receive a hunt permit-tag for select 2016 elk hunts.

After this week’s release of the official draw results, there were 73 leftover hunt permit-tags that will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis as follows:

  • By mail: Paper applications will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, April 25, and must be addressed to: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn.: Draw/First Come, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ  85086. Applications postmarked prior to April 25 will not be accepted. Note: There is no “mini” draw. Allow 10 to 15 business days to receive a hunt permit-tag by mail.
  • In person: If any leftover hunt permit-tags remain, they will be available for purchase beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, May 2 at any of the seven department offices statewide.

For a complete list of leftover hunt permit-tags, visit https://portal.azgfd.stagingaz.gov/PortalImages/files/hunting/draw/leftoverTags/leftovers-fall.pdf.

Many of the leftover elk tags are for Hopi hunt open areas and are available to everyone, both tribal members and non-tribal members, through the first-come, first-served process.

A number of leftover elk tags remain for military hunts at Camp Navajo, for those who qualify. For more information, visit https://dema.az.gov/army-national-guard/camp-navajo/garrison-operations/camp-navajo-hunting-information, e-mail sarah.b.golabiewski.mil@mail.mil, or call 928-773-3225.

For more information, including license and hunt permit-tag requirements, view the “2016 Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information” booklet online, or call (602) 942-3000.  

Kaibab National Forest temporarily suspends issuance of personal use cinder permits for Moonset Pit

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WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest is temporarily suspending the issuance of personal use cinder permits for Moonset Pit on the Williams Ranger District due to operations underway to expand and improve the popular cinder collection area.

Moonset Pit is located just west of Parks, off a dirt road, east of Spitz Springs and to the north of old Route 66. The Kaibab National Forest, working in conjunction with Coconino County, is undertaking a pit expansion project over the next two years in order to make the area safer and also easier to access and use for cinder collection purposes.

Specifically, several acres of trees will be cut and then removed. It is expected this wood will be made available to the public as free firewood once that work has been completed. Then, the existing material in the pit will be moved and rearranged in order to create a more stable and durable structure.

“This pit expansion project is really about public safety,” said Deirdre McLaughlin, lands and minerals staff officer for the Williams and Tusayan districts of the Kaibab National Forest. “We had personal use cinder collectors in the pit who would dig into the material and then have issues with the top collapsing in. We have to restructure the pit so that we don’t have those potentially dangerous situations.”

While the expansion and improvement project is underway, the Kaibab National Forest will not issue personal use cinder permits for Moonset Pit. However, cinder collectors will still be able to obtain personal use permits for W Triangle Pit, also located on the Williams Ranger District. Individuals interested in obtaining a personal use cinder permit should contact the Williams Ranger District office at (928) 635-5600.

A portion of Moonset Pit is also made available by Kaibab National Forest to members of the public to dispose of natural forest debris on specific days in order to assist residents in creating a defensible space around their homes and property. This public service will continue to be offered and will not be impacted by the expansion project. To view open pit dates and additional information on the wildfire risk reduction service, visit http://go.usa.gov/cuYbP.

Please don’t “rescue” baby wildlife: you are likely doing more harm than good

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Deer_fawn_web_GAPHOENIX — Rising temperatures and longer days mean spring is here and newborn wildlife will become increasingly visible.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department understands people’s desire to help seemingly “abandoned” animals such as baby birds and bunnies. However, despite their best intentions, people are often taking a wild baby animal from its parents who have “parked” the baby while they forage for food and water, sometimes for the majority of the day.

Unfortunately, some species of baby animals must be euthanized because they cannot be released back into the wild, and zoos and sanctuaries do not have space to hold them.

“The bottom line is that ‘helping’ or ‘rescuing’ baby wildlife unnecessarily creates an “orphan,” and in some cases is inhumane. The mother is often left searching for her young, and baby wildlife raised by humans is less likely to survive when they are released back into the wild,” said Mike Demlong, wildlife education program manager with Game and Fish. “The department’s wildlife rehab center and others around the state are inundated every year with baby birds and rabbits – and even bobcat kittens, bighorn lambs and elk calves – that were never abandoned and should not have been taken from the wild. In essence, these baby animals were kidnapped.”

Baby_cottontail_GA_webYoung wildlife such as rabbits and squirrels found in your yard or in the field are rarely abandoned. Typically, once the perceived predator (you, or your cat or dog) leaves the area, one or both parents will return and continue to care for the young.

Baby birds are the most common wildlife species encountered by the public and removed from the wild. Young birds that have fallen from the nest can be placed back in the nest or as close as possible. Those that are partially flighted should be left alone or in some cases moved nearby out of harm’s way. Contrary to popular belief, human scent will not prevent the parents from returning to care for their young.

Eggs of ground-nesting birds like quail should be left in place when discovered.

“It’s reassuring to know our society values wildlife and is passionate about caring for wild animals,” Demlong said. “But, people need to do what is best for the baby wildlife and leave them alone even if it’s difficult to accept.”

If you have questions about a specific situation, please contact one of the wildlife rehabilitators listed on the department’s website at: www.azgfd.gov/urbanwildlife. Or, contact your local Game and Fish office.